Unbeaten Leaders Gifu Host Kanazawa; Tottori Take Five-Match Winning Run into Yamaguchi Clash [Preview: MEIJI YASUDA J3 Matchweek 5]

All 10 Matchweek 5 fixtures in the MEIJI YASUDA J3 LEAGUE will be played on 5 and 6 September.

Unbeaten leaders Gifu host Kanazawa after beating Tochigi SC 4-1 last time out. They have been dominant so far, scoring 14 goals and conceding just once in four matches. Hayato Kanda has already scored four goals and could again be key. Kanazawa, meanwhile, lost to Ehime for a second straight defeat. Can Patric, who struck the winner against Imabari in the Levain Cup, deliver in league action too?

Ehime, who are also unbeaten, host Kitakyushu after edging Kanazawa 1-0. Shota Tamura scored the winner and will again be one to watch. Kitakyushu drew with Matsumoto and have now drawn all three of their league matches this season. Can Mahiro Yoshinaga, who struck the winner against Iwaki in the Levain Cup, help them claim their first league victory?

Kagoshima also remain unbeaten after beating Sanuki 4-3 last time out. They now host Ryukyu, with Wataru Tanaka looking to build on his brace against Sanuki. Ryukyu beat Sagamihara to claim their first win of the season. Toshikazu Teruuchi has scored in back-to-back matches and could again lead their attack.

Sagamihara host Nagano after suffering their first defeat of the season, losing 2-1 to Ryukyu. An early goal disrupted their rhythm, so making a stronger start will be important. Nagano lost to Gunma and missed the chance to make it two wins in a row. Their second-half game management will be an area to address after surrendering the lead.

Matsumoto host FC Osaka after drawing with Kitakyushu and remain winless this season. Can Haruto Murakami, who scored his first goal since joining the club, provide the spark they need? FC Osaka remain unbeaten after drawing with Yamaguchi but have struggled to turn draws into wins. They will look to carry the momentum from their 3-0 Levain Cup victory over Kofu into the league.

Sanuki host Shiga after losing to Kagoshima for a second straight defeat. Ryoma Sano scored twice in that match; can he now deliver a result that earns his side all three points? Shiga lost to Tottori and missed the chance to make it three wins in a row. They registered 17 shots without scoring, so they will be looking for more cutting edge in front of goal.

Tochigi SC host Kochi after losing to Gifu and are now winless in three. Reorganising a defence that conceded four goals will be a key priority. Kochi lost 2-0 to Kumamoto and have scored just twice in four matches. They will be looking for more from Aoto Nanamure, who leads the line.

The bottom two meet as Gunma host Fukushima. Gunma beat Nagano last time out to claim their first win of the season, with Taiyo Shimokawa and Manato Hyakuda both on target. The pair could again be key. Fukushima drew with Nara to end their three-match losing run but remain winless. Yuki Okada has already scored three goals and will be looking to help them claim all three points.

Tottori host Yamaguchi after beating Shiga to make it two league wins in a row. Having also knocked Nagoya out of the Emperor's Cup and beaten J2 leaders Omiya 3-1 in the Levain Cup, they are now on a five-match winning run in all competitions. Sota Yamamoto scored twice against Omiya; can he deliver again in league action? Yamaguchi drew with FC Osaka and are winless in two. Having struggled for goals, they will be looking for a response from Sota Watanabe and the rest of their attack.

Kumamoto host Nara after beating Kochi to claim their first win of the season. They also defeated Oita in the Levain Cup and are beginning to build momentum. Having conceded just once in four league matches, their defence has been solid, but they need more cutting edge at the other end. Can Bae Jeongmin open his account for the season? Nara drew with Fukushima and were unable to make it back-to-back wins. After surrendering a two-goal lead, their game management when ahead will be an area to address.

■Check Out the Key Battles in Each Match
Sagamihara vs Nagano
Matsumoto vs. FC Osaka
Gifu vs Kanazawa
Sanuki vs Shiga
Tochigi SC vs Kochi
Gunma vs Fukushima
Tottori vs Yamaguchi
Ehime vs Kitakyushu
Kagoshima vs Ryukyu
Kumamoto vs Nara